Establishment of a cutaneous flap animal model to study platelet and leukocyte dynamics after ischemia-reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVES To study a cutaneous flap in an animal model for platelet and leukocyte dynamics after ischemia-reperfusion injury and to explain how such a model is relevant to the understanding of reconstructive flaps in a clinical setting. METHODS Cutaneous flaps based on the inferior epigastric artery were raised on C57BL/6 mice and were subjected to various periods of ischemia followed by reperfusion. We used intravital microscopy to observe and characterize platelet and leukocyte interactions within the microvasculature. RESULTS Platelet and leukocyte adherence to the microvasculature was greater after a longer reperfusion period in contrast to the adherence pattern seen after a shorter reperfusion period. Leukocyte rolling activity occurred at a greater rate after longer ischemia and shorter reperfusion periods, whereas the rate of platelet saltation occurred after shorter ischemia and longer reperfusion periods. CONCLUSIONS With the establishment of an animal model of cutaneous flaps to study cellular dynamics within the microvasculature after ischemia-reperfusion injury, further investigation into the cellular and molecular characteristics of such injury and the analysis of pharmacological interventions is warranted.

Nuances in the management of rhinophyma.

Rhinophyma is a cosmetically disfiguring disease of the external nose that most frequently affects elderly Caucasian males. Frequently, there is associated derangement of nasal airway patency. Although the true incidence of rhinophyma and its exact etiology remain unknown, it is widely believed to represent the final stage in a continuum of acne rosacea. Medical therapy has not been effective in reversing the disease process, and surgery remains the most accepted method of treating rhinophyma. A wide variety of surgical techniques have been developed and modified over the years in an effort to treat this disorder safely and without significant sequelae. Despite many advances in fundamental understanding, surgical techniques, and related technologies, no single method has been universally embraced and employed as the "gold standard." This review describes the most commonly employed modern surgical techniques and methods used throughout the world to treat rhinophyma. There is special emphasis on the authors' preferred method of excision and postoperative management (tumescent anesthesia, Weck blade excision, and argon beam coagulation), which has been demonstrated to be effective and expeditious.

Human papillomavirus in metastatic lymph nodes from unknown primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Determine human papillomavirus (HPV) incidence in unknown primary squamous cell carcinomas (SCCa) of the head and neck and assess if HPV status influenced survival. STUDY DESIGN: Historical cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care center. SUBJECTS: Patients with unknown primary SCCa despite a complete workup who underwent neck dissection or excisional biopsy and postoperative comprehensive ± chemoradiotherapy between 2002 and 2009. METHODS: HPV fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and p16(INK4a) immunohistochemistry (p16 IHC) were performed. Results were compared with survival, age, race, gender, tobacco use, alcohol use, and nodal stage. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients met the inclusion criteria, of whom 88% were >10 pack year tobacco users. Twenty-eight percent were HPV-positive defined by both p16+ and FISH+. Five-year overall survival was 66.7% in HPV-positive and 48.5% in HPV-negative patients (P = .35). Similarly, 5-year disease-free survival rates were 66.7% in HPV-positive and 48.5% in HPV-negative patients (P = .54). All 3 HPV-positive nonsmokers were survivors, but this was not significant because of the small sample size (P > .05). No other characteristics were associated with survival (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Twenty-eight percent of metastatic lymph nodes from occult primary tumors were HPV positive. There was no survival difference associated with HPV status. Most of the HPV-positive patients in this study were tobacco users who had similar survival to HPV-negative patients, so caution should be used in interpreting HPV status in these patients.